PHILADELPHIA — It’s hard to overlook the run-in DeSean Jackson had last season with wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell in Minnesota.

The Eagles were on the wrong end of what would be a 48-30 loss to the heavy underdog Vikings when Jackson, the intended receiver, made no attempt to tackle Shaun Prater, who had intercepted an underthrown pass by quarterback Nick Foles.

Bicknell had words with Jackson as he came to the sideline. Eagles receivers Jason Avant and Riley Cooper stepped in to calm Jackson down.

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“Ask Riley Cooper,” Bicknell said Monday. “Me and him have had a couple of different things. I mean, really, honestly I don’t really remember too much about the whole situation. It’s not something that was carried along. It’s something I think that does happen from time to time but I had no problem with DeSean. None whatsoever.”

Unable to trade Jackson, the Eagles released him after the season. Eventually Jackson signed with the Washington Redskins. And oh, by the way, he’s nursing a strained hamstring.

You can count on Jackson playing in both games against the Eagles this season. And don’t be surprised if he and Bicknell hug it out.

“I enjoyed the year I had with him,” Bicknell said. “As a coach you move on so quickly. If something happens to Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper has got to be ready. So once that decision was made, I’ve moved on. I wish him nothing but the best. He did everything I asked him to do and I enjoyed being around him.”

Jackson had a career season with the Birds. No Eagle was faster or better tracking deep throws.

Chip Kelly and his coaching staff, on the other hand, are anything but worried about replacing the speed or the production.

“No, we’re not concerned about it,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “We wish him well. We like the group of guys we’re working with. We’re going to put them out there and expect that they’re going to do good things for us.”

Maclin (6-0, 198) has returned from a torn ACL. Cooper re-signed. The Eagles selected wide receivers Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff in the second and third rounds of the draft.

Matthews (6-3, 212) is getting a ton of work playing in the slot where he would be a matchup nightmare for whatever sawed-off nickel back was assigned him. Jackson (5-10, 175) didn’t like going over the middle.

“I think his size is showing up here in our training,” Shurmur said of Matthews. “He’s made some plays. He’s made some contested catches. He’s done a good job of catching the ball and running with it. And even though we haven’t been tackling my sense is once he catches it and gets running he’ll be a difficult guy to tackle. He’s a great finisher. He’ll catch the ball and run through the fence with you. He’s got all the things you’re looking for.”

Shurmur stopped short of saying the Eagles simply decided to go big like several teams around the league.

“I don’t know in terms of trends,” Shurmur said. “But if you notice the size of our receivers when we’re out there training, bigger targets sometimes for the quarterback can be a good thing.”

NOTES

The Eagles begin a three-day minicamp Tuesday. It’s the last time they can practice together before training camp. The minicamp could begin to sort out who the Birds count on to return kicks. In addition to Darren Sproles, the Eagles will look at Maclin, cornerback Nolan Carroll, Huff, wide receivers Brad Smith and Damaris Johnson, nickel back Brandon Boykin and running back Chris Polk.